The Talawanda–Butler Tech FFA Chapter is celebrating a historic year, with 17 students earning the Ohio FFA State Degree, the largest number of State Degree recipients in chapter history. In addition to this milestone, the chapter has been selected as a Top 10 FFA Chapter in the State of Ohio through the National Chapter Award program. The recognition reflects a year filled with leadership development, community service, agricultural advocacy, and career exploration.
With nearly 185 FFA members and 183 students enrolled in agricultural education, Talawanda–Butler Tech FFA is one of the largest student organizations at Talawanda High School. Despite its size, the chapter continues to maintain a strong culture of leadership, involvement, and student-driven initiatives.
Students will be recognized at the Ohio FFA State Convention in late April, where they will walk across the stage to receive their State Degrees and learn more about additional chapter recognition at the state and national level.
The Ohio FFA State Degree is one of the highest honors a member can earn at the state level and represents years of work and involvement. Students must complete Supervised Agricultural Experiences, log work hours and financial records, participate in leadership and FFA events, complete community service hours, and submit an extensive application that is reviewed at both the district and state level.
“Not everybody earns a State Degree, so it’s a big accomplishment,” said Jackson Clayton, a Talawanda junior. “It basically shows that you put in the work.”
One of the major requirements for the State Degree is a Supervised Agricultural Experience, often called an SAE. These projects allow students to gain real-world experience through jobs, internships, entrepreneurship, farming, conservation work, or skilled trades.
Students in the Talawanda–Butler Tech FFA Chapter have completed a wide variety of SAE projects, including working on pig farms and lamb operations, raising rabbits and livestock, welding and fabrication projects, small woodworking businesses, conservation trapping programs, internships with engineering companies, and working at local agricultural businesses.
For many students, these experiences also helped them discover what they want to do after graduation.
“FFA has really pushed me to figure out what I want to do,” said Hunter Guenther, a Talawanda junior. “Through my experiences and the people I’ve met, I’ve been able to figure out the career path I want to follow.”
Students shared career goals including agriculture education, engineering, criminal justice, firefighting, and skilled trades, many of which were influenced by their experiences through FFA and their SAE projects.
While the work-based experiences are a major part of FFA, students emphasized that leadership development is just as important. Students described how FFA helped them grow in confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities through competitions, officer roles, conferences, and community events.
“It’s definitely made me open up more and get out of my comfort zone,” said Natylie Richardson, a Talawanda senior. “I’ve met people I wouldn’t normally meet and had experiences I never thought I would have.”
Students also talked about how leadership experiences in FFA helped them in other areas of their lives, including sports, jobs, and future careers.
While individual accomplishments like State Degrees are important, students consistently pointed back to the culture of the chapter as the reason for their success.
“It feels like one big family,” said Jackson Clayton. “Even when we graduate, alumni come back and support us. Everyone helps each other and wants each other to succeed.”
This year, that culture was especially evident as many of the 17 State Degree recipients helped each other complete applications, log hours, and meet the requirements.
“We all helped each other,” said Addison Asher, a Talawanda junior. “If someone didn’t know how to log something or needed help with their application, we worked together to figure it out.”
Students explained that earning a State Degree may be an individual award, but it often takes the support of the entire chapter to get there.
One of the most telling parts of the interview was when students talked about the new Butler Tech and Madison FFA chapter that started this year. Rather than seeing another chapter as competition, Talawanda students immediately talked about helping them succeed.
“Take every opportunity you can get and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” said Hunter Guenther. “If you don’t ask, you might miss a big opportunity. Just take that first step and get involved.”
Students also emphasized the importance of leadership, even without a title.
“Leadership doesn’t have a title,” said Addison Asher. “You don’t need a title to be a leader. Just take opportunities, keep yourself accountable, and push yourself because there’s so much that can come from FFA.”
Their willingness to support another Butler Tech FFA chapter reflects the collaborative culture across Butler Tech programs and the idea that students are part of something bigger than their own chapter.
In addition to the State Degrees, the Talawanda–Butler Tech FFA Chapter also completed the National Chapter Award application, which evaluates chapters based on leadership development, community impact, agricultural advocacy, and student involvement.
With nearly 185 members, the chapter earned an outstanding score on the National Chapter Award application and was selected as one of the Top 10 FFA Chapters in the State of Ohio. This recognition demonstrates strong student leadership, organization, and program impact across leadership, community service, and agricultural initiatives.
“These projects are all student-led,” said instructor Kari Roberts. “Students plan them, organize them, and carry them out. It really takes the entire chapter working together to make these things happen.”
Projects highlighted in the application included mentoring younger students, hosting scholarship workshops, organizing career exploration events with industry partners, teaching agricultural literacy lessons, promoting local agricultural businesses, conducting community service initiatives, and strengthening partnerships with agricultural supporters and community organizations.
The National Chapter Award application reflects the overall strength of the program, not just individual accomplishments, but the work of the entire chapter and the impact students are making in their school and community.
As the students prepare to attend the Ohio FFA State Convention in late April, they are looking forward to receiving their State Degrees and learning more about their chapter’s recognition at the state and national level.
“It’s really a testament to how far I’ve come and how far I will go,” said Natylie Richardson. “I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished through FFA.”
Being named a Top 10 Chapter in Ohio, earning a perfect National Chapter Award score, and having a record number of State Degree recipients in the same year makes this one of the most successful years in the history of the Talawanda–Butler Tech FFA Chapter.
